barebottom clean up crew

[ItsMee]

What kind of animals are used in a clean up crew for bare bottom tanks?

 

[beard]

blue legged hermits might work but they wont get around very well. snails would work!

 

[ItsMee]

what kind of snails?

 

[Fast Fred]

My reef is also BB. I have Turbos, Astrias, a bumble bee or two, some small hermits, and a couple med. Electric blue hermits. The best clean up crew is me with a turkey baster and a siphon hose.

 

[lbear]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7166458#post7166458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fast Fred
The best clean up crew is me with a turkey baster and a siphon hose.

Which siphon hose are you using?

 

[Fast Fred]

I have a home-made siphon hose. It's a piece of 5/8 clear vinyl hose about 6' long. I slid the end of it over a piece of 1/2" CPVC pipe about 2' long that I use as a 'wand'. I drain into a 32g Brute trash can that has wheels on it.

 

[Fast Fred]

BTW, for those of you who are new to Bare-Bottom, Welcome to The Dark Side. :strooper:

 

[lbear]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7166739#post7166739 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fast Fred
I have a home-made siphon hose. It's a piece of 5/8 clear vinyl hose about 6' long. I slid the end of it over a piece of 1/2" CPVC pipe about 2' long that I use as a 'wand'. I drain into a 32g Brute trash can that has wheels on it.

Could you explain more about how it works? Thanks!

I am thinking of using a small pump/PH with vinyl hose and PVC pipe.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

all you need for a siphon is hose. the pvc is just used to mvoe around easier and suck up bigger items if need be.

Put one end outside the tank and the otehr inside. suck on the outside end until the water goes over the rim of your tank. thats a siphon, as long as you keep the other end below the tank, and the other in the water.

 

[lbear]

Just don't want to suck it with my mouth. I am looking for some new ideas. Thanks!

 

[ItsMee]

you dont have to suck it out with your mouth.....


how to start a syphon without sucking:

The end that will be spitting out water must be lower than the end sucking in the water from the tank. Take the end in the tank and scoop water into it. Then hold it up to where the water begins to move down through the tube...when you see it start to move, quickly put it under the water, holding it in the same position (mouth up).

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense....water starts to go through the tube, causing a suction (instead of your mouth) - then you put it into the water and the suction starts the syphon.

Tip: When doing this, the whole time the mouth of the tube should be facing straight up!

 

[Fast Fred]

I must admit, embarrassingly, I suck on the hose. The hose is a good 6' long, and I have gotten good enough to where I know when to stop sucking and put the end in the bucket without getting a mouth full of water.

Maybe not quite the same, but having grown up swimming in the ocean, I can tell you, I've swallowed more then my share of saltwater.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

lol I dont suck on the hose anymore either. But when I did, you only have to do so for a split second lol. Long enough for the water to get over the lip of the tank. Once it starts flowing down you golden.